Louis XV commode veneered in dark woods, with marble top, wavy front and sides, France mid-18th century

Front decorated with a floral motif with a central cartouche of mixtilinear shape that presents an oriental-inspired decoration in the form of flowering cherry branches on a black background, which is repeated on the sides with figures of birds within a landscape and open flowers, embellished with gold highlights. It features foliate volute applications on the corners and apron; slightly moved legs concealed by sabots. DUBOIS stamp on the top. In 18th-century Paris, the Dubois were a large family of cabinetmakers. The founder, Jacques Dubois (1693 – 1763), together with his son René (1737 – 1799), followed in his art the evolutionary path from the Louis XV style to the Louis XVI style, presenting furniture with a luxurious and imaginative character. They used lacquers and varnishes, polychrome marquetry, bronzes with asymmetrical rocaille motifs, exotic decorations and chinoiseries. Jacques Dubois obtained the recognition of maître in 1742 and embarked on a brilliant career, working for almost twenty years in his workshop in Rue de Charenton. He then became cabinetmaker to the king and worked for the nobility. René Dubois followed his father's career, becoming a maître in 1754 and soon being recognized as the most important member of the historic family of cabinetmakers, until his consecration in 1779, when he was appointed ébéniste de la reine. The Dubois brand guaranteed high-end furniture, highly appreciated both in France and abroad, thus giving rise to the Dubois Style. As anticipated, one of his specialties was the use of paint in the style of the Far East, with the use of Chinese lacquer panels on a black and red background. The example we propose collects all the characteristics of Dubois style furniture: from floral and rocaille inlays, to the use of Chinese lacquer on a black background with quotations from the East to the sinuous applications in finely chiseled and gilded bronze with foliate, rocaille and acanthus leaf elements. width cm. 143 depth cm. 63 height cm. 89